The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley School Committee election results: Kelley, Paul make the cut

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In Wellesley’s only contested townwide race at Tuesday’s election, newcomer Matt Kelley scored the most votes (1,672) for a seat on the School Committee, with incumbent Wendy Paul coming in next with 1,571 votes to take the other available slot. Incumbent Diane Campbell finished third. This according to preliminary results released by the town clerk on Tuesday night. Write-in and hand-counted votes were still being tabulated.

Kelley’s platform included an emphasis on pumping up the school systems’s science, technology, engineering and math offerings. He has four kids in the Wellesley Public School system.

A little more than 2,900 residents voted, representing just 18% of registered voters.

Final results should be online Wednesday.

2014 Wellesley MA March election preliminary results

Exit interview: Gig Babson moves on from Wellesley Board of Selectmen

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GigWith Wellesley Town Election coming up next Tuesday, March 4, we figured it was a good time to check in with Katherine “Gig” Babson, who announced in December that she would not be seeking re-election to the Board of Selectmen this time around.

She wraps up a 9-year run on the board, during which many big changes have taken place, including a loosening of alcohol licenses for business and the opening of a new Wellesley High School that features the Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Auditorium.

While Babson will leave the BoS, she’s sticking around town and will continue to be very involved.

babson auditorium wellesley high

So now that you’ll have all this free time on your hands, what are you going to do?  I  hope that Town Meeting approves the creation of a Town Government Study Committee to review the structure of Town government, including such matters as the size of Town Meeting, the timing of Town elections, the authority and responsibility of the Executive Director of General Government Services (i.e, Han’s position), the possible consolidation of town boards and committees, etc. (it is warrant article 30). If TM approves it, I hope the Moderator will appoint me to the 9-member committee.

I see you retired from your law firm as well. Is this one of those retirements where you really are retired or do you keep on working? Yes, I retired from my law firm at the end of December. I have a few small business matters that require me to go into Boston a few times a month. I am on the Advisory Group for North Hill and I am happily working on my 50th   WHS reunion that will take place in a year. I love having the time to explore the Town, visit with friends and walk my dog.   Last year was the FIRST time in 38 years that I have ever been in Wellesley Square during the day in the middle of the week.  Seems hard to believe, but I was either at Town Hall or in my office in Boston.

How much time does being a BoS member actually take? Lots and lots of time.   For most of those 9 years, I always had at least two meetings at night each week, lots of times, three nights a week and very busy times, all 4 nights.  And, many meetings during the week day.

What was your highlight on the board? (lowlight?) Almost all of those years as Selectmen were  “highlights”—it was a wonderful job ; I loved almost all of it. I loved the variety and the challenge of getting things done.  We have  great staff in town and great volunteers on boards and committees. I loved the opportunity of working with them all. I wish more of our residents would participate in Town government. There are plenty of opportunities .

Do you have plans to keep involved in town government or activities going forward? 43 years as a TMM and still counting…

Wellesley Special Town Meeting gulps retail booze changes, OKs $ for seniors

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The Wellesley Special Town Meeting has gotten much accomplished this week, though will need at least one more night (next Monday) to wrap up the issue of funding for school capital projects.

As expected, the motion to approve 6 malt and wine licenses for retail establishments passed easily and now it’s up to the state legislature to help move things forward (a townwide vote could then happen in the spring, paving the way for grocery and other retailers to sell booze).

Whether or not town meeting would approve $300K+ in additional funds to study issues (parking, traffic, etc.)  that have so far prevented the Tolles-Parsons Senior Center project from being okayed was less clear at the start, and despite vigorous back and forth during the meeting for more than 3 hours, monies were approved by a vote of 130-52 in the event the Board of Selectmen is able to move the proposed project forward with cooperation from the Planning Board. Wellesley’s police chief, a prominent lawyer and others spoke favorably about the project.

Here’s the town meeting scorecard, plus coverage from the Townsman and Patch (Monday and  Tuesday).

If you missed the meeting and want to catch it on cable or online, here’s Wellesley Media’s schedule. You can catch Monday’s meeting on-demand here.